Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-11-17
RIDING A PICK.A.PACK.


How the Little Ones Of Many Animals
Are Carried by Their Parents.
Among our Indian tribes we invari.
ably see the pappoosc swung TO the
mothers back or carried in the way
called pick-a-pack. ard it is curious to
note how many of the lower animals
transport their little ones in the same
way. oftentimes when it requires no
little effort on the part of the parent.
One OF the most interesting animals ]
have ever seen was large South
American ant-eater; the lOng-nosed,
bushy-tailed fellow which walks upon
the side of its feet. SO long are its
claws, whose scientific name is myrme-
cophaga jubala. 1t stood upright.
s)cering at me with its small bead-like
eyes. its great tail completely cover
ing its back like IN umbrella. and as
watched the curious creature became
aware of another pair Of eyes and an
other long nose just above the head
of the large one. and it soon
dawned upon me that the AMI
ta.cr had = little one. and that it was
perched upon the mothers back.
completely concealed by the long
bushy tail that was spread over it like
- canopy. And this was the way the
Baby. and sometimes two. was carried
about. The great tail serves double
purpose: it not only covers and hides
'sle young when upon the mothers
back. but it protects the ant-cater her.
sci. giving her the appearance of
great bush.
While the ant-eater is slow-gOing.
.cimsy beast. it is an enemy 10 BE-
dreaded al close quarters. the long
SHARP claws being terrible weapons l
ihavc been Informed that on one occa-
sion a native saw an ant-eater carry
ing its young p;ck-a-pack. rs l have
described. and thinking to secure il
fcr dinner. rs the little fellows are
considered great dclicacies. he APP
Nroached and attacked it with his
spear. when without warning the ami
saai srrang at him. the babies rolling
..f rs she struck the unfortunate
man so powerful a blow
with her claws that he was instantly
killed. The claws of the an,-cater
arc its only weapon, being long. sharp
=,nd powerful. to enable it to tear open
Che great aut-hlls. Its mouth is ex-
sremcly small and ut the end of long
pointed snout. while the tongue is of
remarkable length and perfectly adapt
cd for the work it has to perform.
In South America another animal.
slie sloth. carries its young in the same
snanner. The brown bear of Asia
carries its young pick-a-pack. and
srhen walking along scdately bearin.
the cubs ons or two. upon its back, j;
presents very curious appearance.
dn equatorial Africa hunters often Sc,
young animals in curious positions.
Oace when \ party had crept up to
= lake in the hope of finding herd of
elephants. they saw instead. some
twenty or thirty feet from the shore. Il
large baby hippopotamus that seemed
to be actually standing on the water.
its huge clumsy feet resting upon
It The hunters supposed
1hat it was on a sand
Gar. but rs it soon began to move away
without any melton of the feet it be-
came evident that the thousand pound
baby was upon its mothers back. Il
roec gradually higher and higher. and
rs the old one moved up the bank it
was seen TO be sanding on her broad
back. Icing carried up and down
stream in this way.
Among our own comparatively ia.
Niliar animals We find a most inter-
csting example of pick-a-pack riding.
The common opossum of the South,
tho only pouched animal of this coun-
try. first carries its young in pouch;
Out when they are well grown and
capable of running about they take
their places upon her back and cling
there. sometimes six or seven. present.
ing very animated appearance. their
little black eyes glistening and the lit
tic ears erect The little opossums
aiave peculiar way Of holding ON. in
this having an advantage over al
most all other animals Their tails
nre what is called prehensile. or have
tie faculty of clinging to any objec,
Alike tho tail of tho so-called rinS-tailed